NHL Matchup - December 12, 2007

Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks

The injury-riddled Vancouver Canucks will try to avoid losing three in a row for the first time this season when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday at the Honda Center.

The Canucks will be missing five regulars, including All-Star goalie Roberto Luongo, who is day-to-day with sore ribs. Vancouver will also be without forwards Brendan Morrison (wrist), Jeff Cowan (shoulder), Brad Isbister (lower-body), and defenseman Kevin Bieksa (calf).

Anaheim has a significant edge head-to-head, going 7-1-0-2 in the past 10 meetings. But Vancouver won the teams’ first meeting this year, shutting out the Ducks 4-0 at home on Nov. 27. Vancouver is 3-10 SU in its past 13 games against Anaheim.

Interestingly, the road team is 13-5 SU in the past 18 meetings.

In their last game, the Canucks (16-11-3 SU) lost 4-2 to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, as -140 road favorites. The score was over the over/under of 5½. The Ducks (15-13-4 SU) got past the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 on Monday. The Ducks won the game as a +105 road underdog; the score was over the over/under of 5.
 
Over/under bettors should note an “Under” trend in recent meetings: The total has gone Under in 10 of Vancouver's past 14 games on the road against Anaheim, and Under in six of Vancouver's past nine overall.

Backup netminder Curtis Sanford gets the start for Vancouver, while Jean-Sebastien Giguere will be in net for Anaheim.

Online sportsbooks are reporting 58 per cent of wagers are for an Anaheim win, as of Wednesday afternoon.

Betting Line: Anaheim is a 160-moneyline favorite at BodogLife. The over/under is 5.